dEcEmBeR PhOtO PrOjEcT [2010]

  During the month of December I really enjoy taking time to make lots of tried and true treats, as well as some new ones.  Every weekend my family likes to eat Nachos and Homemade Salsa, fresh cut carrots, cheese and crackers and one of the little treats we have made.  I have a pretty little cart that I sit the food on, and we all just come by and snack off and on, all weekend. 

 Fresh cut carrots and homemade dip, colby jack cheese w/wheat thins and chocolatey haystax! Yummie!!

Camille made this delicious new treat with cornflakes, peanut butter and cream cheese, blended with chocolate. It was gone in no time!

Homestyle Chicken Dinner w/potatoes, carrots & fresh green beans

This is one of the easiest dinners you can prepare, especially when you are running low on time.  Here's what you will need:


*4-5 carrots, peeled/cleaned

*1 qt green beans

*10 potatoes, cleaned, partially peeled

*10 chicken tenderloins, skinless, boneless

*1/3-1/2 stick butter

*S & P

*1/3 C Italian Dressing (I used Newman's Own-Organic)

*1/3 C Parmesan cheese

*1/4 C Mayo



-Place carrots in medium pot. Add a dash of  S&P, pat of butter; turn on low heat; cover.


-Place green beans in medium pot. Add a dash of S&P, pat of butter; turn heat to medium; cover.


-Wash potatoes with scrubbie. Partially peel and cut into small cubes. Rinse. Place in large water-filled pot to boil.  Boil until soft.


-Meanwhile, using your favorite non-stick skillet, add the chicken tenderloins to cook on med-low heat. Add a sprinkling of ITALIAN SEASONING AND 2-3 T WATER; Cover; Be careful not to let them stick. Cook until done. When done, drain any excess water. 


-Add to the chicken, 1/3 C italian dressing, 2 pats of butter, dash of pepper-salt only if desired, Cover and simmer.


-Allow to simmer until vegetables are done.


-While the chicken is simmering, come back to your potatoes. Drain about 3/4 of water from potatoes and add mayo, Parmesan cheese, S&P, and 3 T butter. With your mixer, slightly mash the potatoes before you blend them.  This will help them to blend easier. Now, turn mixer on and gently blend together. Taking care to mix all ingredients, scraping sides as you go; set aside.


-Don't forget to check your chicken and stir the carrots and green beans.

When all veggies are done, serve with cornbread and freshly brewed iced tea.


Total prep time: 25-30 minutes


Serves: 3 adults and 3 children


Note: one thing you'll want to know about using italian dressing is that it will absorb into the chicken and that is just what you want it to do. It will cause the chicken to become very tender and juicy!  It will be yummie and very moist.  You won't even have to add salt or much other seasoning except the italian seasoning. Enjoy!!


Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy this easy and quick meal idea! Come Again~Kimi

Enjoying this warm weather together

It is always nice to get together with friends. Especially when the weather warms up and all the kids can get outside. I love to make homemade pancakes and waffles from freshly ground wheat. I know that may sound weird, but they really taste so much better than the other flour. So, Christy and I got together and made some breakfast for us all! Now between us we have 13 children. Not all of them were here this particular day...that is really ok. But we did have a great time and enjoyed a nice breakfast together. Now you know homeschoolers...we do accomplish our studies...here we all are in the kitchen. Time for some fun! Ashley and Christy hard at work! Hee-hee! Love you guys!

A little syrup - homemade!! MMmmmmm...good!

Everyone in the kitchen around my little farm table that Bridget gave me...it just fits me! Thanks Bridget...wish you were here too! And Tammy, and Christy B, and Tammy A, and my Mom, and Von, and Michelle, Andrea, Marsha....

Jesse and Garrett preparing their plates.

Emily, Micaylah, Katelin, Ashley, Christy, Austin, Jesse & Garrett. Me(taking pic).We all sat down and had a nice breakfast of freshly milled, homemade pancakes, waffles, and sausages. Complete with homemade syrup. There was a few pancakes left so we sent them home to Bob and Micheal. (Christy's husband and son). Hope they liked them!

Camille and Ashley are catching up on conversation.

Here's a new 'do' for ya! Turned out pretty Camille :)

Another day on the dirt mound...Jesse and Austin

Jacob is driving this half track, front end loader...big guy!

Emily is holding Dusti, Micaylah and Katelin are keeping Laci still. What sweet friends

We ended the afternoon with some soccer ball and running.

Christy and I got to sit on the patio watching them run and play and talk a while. It was a very nice day...I am looking forward to doing it again soon. Now she is not my neighbor any longer...she is my friend. God has a way of bringing special people into our lives.

birthday for me :)

I am so thankful to the Lord for another year. What a treasure of friends He has given to me. What a blessed church family He has placed me in. How honored I am to be part of the family I am part of.In good times and in trying times He has always been there for me and for my family. He has provided everything I have ever needed and has equipped me to succeed. The world may look at success by how much you have in your bank account, how far you can climb up the corporate ladder or what your retirement can bring you, but I count my success in different ways. My phone didn't stop ringing with wishes of a happy birthday, my husband and children woke up that morning with glad faces of 'what are we going to do today, it's your birthday!' and the day was bright with a fresh new feeling of being a new year. That's what I like about being born at the first of the year. Everything's new. And I count it all joy! We did have a great day. Since my husband was working, we went to Bible Quiz practice at 8am. After that came back to town and went to a neat little restaurant called 'L Rancho'. Which by the way, if you haven't ever been there...you must go and get breakfast!! It was wonderful and what a breakfast did they serve. It was on a huge platter and served so quickly and piping hot! Yummie! I think I may find another reason to go out for breakfast soon. Anyway, the kids treated me and we had such a nice morning. When we were done we went out to our new house and they had a surprise for me. A birthday cake. It was delicious! Thank you Ashley...you're a great baker! Later, my husband came and picked me up from the house and while Camille kept the children, Grant and I went home to get ready to go out to dinner. We haven't been out to dinner, well, since the last time we went for the Wendy's dinner. Wow!! two times in one month--I really am special. Hee Hee! We did have a nice time and I enjoyed having some time alone with just my husband. No one else was there! Just us.

I'm so thankful to the Lord of my life for allowing me another year to learn and grow and give and share and meet new people and see new things and do new things and all that HE has for me. I hope you are having as much fun in your new year as we are in ours. Trials WILL come and we WILL over come them...one at a time, because "...with God nothing shall be impossible." I really have so much more I want to share, but time does not permit. More soon...much love! Kimi

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (ddp 25)

Hoping this finds all of you spending your day celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord of all creation. We are having a wonderful time together. (Although we are missing several somebodies...you know who you are). Yesterday, we spent the day baking and just being together. We made cookies and I started our Christmas dinner. Here is a little sample. I have a few other pics of some of the other things we made, but I will need to download them later. We are getting ready to play another game. Gotta go for now. Much love~Kimi and family

Always Jesus!(photo proj-day 20)

A very nice brunch this morning. We had fluffy, home made biscuits with bacon (turkey, of course), eggs (fresh) and OJ, along with some of that cream cheese icing and coffee. Mmmm...I think everyone had seconds. Camille was able to be with us today and that made it so nice.

This evening my husband and I took a walk. Then he wanted to take a photo of the house with all the lights up. After that we went to the place that claims that they 'always have THE lowest prices, ALWAYS'. I can honestly say, we haven't been there but twice the whole season and that was ONLY because my grocer was out of what I needed. I have made it my business to stay away and have found it to be "rather refreshing". Plus, all that extra $$ is still in our pocket. I tell myself and live by this..."the only thing I really, always need is Jesus!". JESUS, ALWAYS!

A night out...(Photo Proj-Day 16)

Tonight my husband and I had a wonderful time! We got to go to a lovely Christmas party. It was given by the owner of my husband's company, Mr. Joe Turner. Now, we have been to many of these kinds of parties and have even given them ourselves, but I must say this...it was thee most professional and 'Christmas honoring' one I've ever been to. When we arrived (a bit late, due to the fog), Mr. Turner (Joe), Eric, and Dane & Scott graciously introduced themselves to us...and as we stood, trying to decide where to sit, Mr. Turner asked if we'd like to sit with him. We had such a nice evening. Nearly 2 whole hours had passed and I realized I hadn't even called to check on the kids. When I did, they were fine. Did I say how good the food was. I had chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce and Grant had steak and they both came with steamed zucchini, squash, carrots, peppers and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Yummie! There was also a wonderful chocolate cake w/chocolate sauce and a huge scoop of ice cream too. I couldn't eat half of it. The restaurant is Grill 29, in a neat little area just outside of town. Here's a pic of the outside of it. This fountain is really gorgeous. I'm thankful for a wonderful time with my sweet husband and for the kind people he is now working with. God has his hand on this whole situation. Oh, by the way. The company my husband is with now, is Wendy's. How neat is that!! Blessings to you~Kimi

So busy and many changes happening!

Whew!! It has been a bit too long that I have posted. We have had so many things keeping us busy the last month.

We are moving into our new church and helping any way we can to get things finished up there. It is going to be an awesome time this weekend. Sunday School has been going great and our classes keep growing steadily. Some of the classes are over 20 now. What a wonderful thing!

School has kept us learning and studying every single day. We have been studying about the Solar System, the 13 colonies in History and State Study, along with the regulars like reading, math and English. Bible memory is top priority as well as handwriting and life skills.

We have had some trials here lately too. But we know, God is ALWAYS on the throne and in control of every situation. It's our season for change. More on that soon. I'm actually looking forward to sharing a few things with you! Friends visiting, changing directions, harvest time & puppies! Just to name a few.

I just wanted to post a little something and will try to get back on track with my blogs this upcoming week.

fruit, friends and moving forward

Now that we've made it through the rainy weather this week it's about time for the new season. I just love Fall. I get out my big bins full of fall decor and begin to place it around the house and eagerly look forward to the brisk, coolness in the air ahead when I can sit out on my front porch and read in the morning. With a hot cup of tea. Mmmm...I just know we're moving into a new season in many ways.

This week the boys have been a little sick. I took them to our family doctor and they had bronchitis and a sinus infection, plus Garrett had some kind of intestinal virus...ick! But after a few days of bed rest, they are both much better now.

Since eating didn't sound like a super idea to them, I decided to get some fresh fruit to tempt them into eating a bit. So, for breakfast this week we enjoyed fruit, homemade bread and hot tea or OJ. I had the tea and they had the OJ.The watermelon was especially delicious this year. We found one at a good price and ended up eating all of it in 2 days. The cantaloupe was sweet and the apples were crisp. I think this helped the boys to feel better.

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago...Micaylah with her friend Caila. They were having pizza and enjoying a time of fun playing dolls.

Brookelyn and Micaylah are making homemade wheat bread together. I asked Micaylah if she would make some bread and Brookelyn came into the kitchen and said, "I want to make some bread too! " So they spent the afternoon baking AND eating fresh, hot bread. Friends are like flowers...they are homegrown! Silly girls, 'tricks are for kids!!!' Remember that old cereal advertisement! Austin and Nathan are having a great time slip-n-slidin'. One day a few weeks ago, Bridget came over and we canned tomatoes. She brought Nathan and he and Austin had a great afternoon. Tanner, Trevor, Jody and Garrett are having a real bad time of it, with basketball. You never know what they will grow up to become. They are great with the younger guys! Thanks!

Well, we've covered the friends and the fruit...what about the moving forward? It's a new season and we know that all things work together for the good to them who are the called according to his purpose. Sometimes things happen and we know exactly why. Isn't that a nice feeling? And thank God we don't have to live in our feeling "world". It's not always that we have good feelings. We would be in bondage! Then, at other times things happen and we have absolutely no idea why. Our feelings betray us and we have to remember that God has been where we are. We must look to him. We must move forward and press toward the mark of the high calling. Moving on, moving up and moving forward into our new season.